DEPRESSANTS

DEPRESSANTS:

• A substance that reduces arousal or stimulation
• Slows brain activity
• Used as legal prescriptions

HISTORY:

• Depressants have an ancient history of being used, opium was one of the first depressants used
• For the past 100 years, two groups of depressants have led the illegal drug market
• Barbiturates and benzodiazepines
• Alcohol is also one of the most common depressants and was also one of the earliest depressants used
• In modern times, vast assortments of synthetic depressants have become available

EFFECTS: SHORT TERM

• Slower brain functions
• Slower pulse and blood pressure
• Poor concentration and confusion
• Dizziness, fatigue, fever, slurred speech
• Visual disturbances, dilated pupils disorientation

EFFECTS: LONG TERM

• Depression
• Chronic fatigue
• Breathing difficulties
• Sexual problems
• Sleep problems

EFFECTS:

• Taking depressants can affect you:
• Socially-withdrawal from family and friends
• Mentally-slows brain processing and activity
• Emotionally-can change your complete personality because of addiction
• Medically-can cause unhealthy blood pressure spikes and visual disturbances

WHY LIVE WITHOUT IT?

• Depressants create a negative impact on the people taking them
• It can cause them to decline in all areas of their life
• It can cause negative relationships and can harm good ones
• Dealing of depressant drugs can cause illegal activity
• Depressants can cause addictions which create negative effects

HOW DOES THIS DRUG EXIST?

• Opium and alcohol some of the first used
• Medical usage
• Produce sleep, muscle relaxation, and general sedation
• Prescribed by doctors but become addictive
• Sold illegal to addicts

HOW DOES IT EFFECT SOCIETY?

• Numbs people to reality
• Causes illegal activity and decrease in rational actions
• Cost money and lives ex.alcohol related accidents
• Suicide rates increase, bullying, bad peer influence, abuse

LIFE EXAMPLE

• https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kPVZdO1BPMM

INTERESTING FACTS

• Xanax=Barbs, Valium=candy, Halcion=Downers
• Klonopin=sleeping pills, Amytal=Tooies, Nembutal=Tranks
• More teens die from prescription drugs than herion/cocaine
• Estimated 208 million people internationally consume drugs
• Drug use and addiction is linked to half major crimes in the US

INTERESTING FACTS

• Drug abuse and addiction costs Americans $484 billion+ annually
• Alcohol-related car accidents is the 2nd leading cause of teen deaths
• The most commonly used illegal drug is marijuana
• Alcohol & drugs contribute to over 50% of all suicides
• Alcohol & drugs contribute to over 80% of domestic violence cases